New legal aid ‘advice deserts’ emerge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2016 in housing, law centres, law firms, legal aid, news by sally

‘Further evidence of the problem of legal aid ‘advice deserts’ has emerged with a new government attempt to plug holes in the provision of housing and debt services.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Four councils formally launch legal action over Heathrow expansion – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 12th, 2016 in airports, consultations, local government, news, pollution by sally

‘Four local authorities have formally served legal papers accusing the Government of unlawfully supporting the expansion of Heathrow.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 12th December 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Greater protection against ‘stranger stalking’ – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2016 in consultations, harassment, news, penalties, stalking by sally

‘The government is stepping up efforts to protect victims of stalking by introducing a new protection order – but has told prosecutors that this should not deter them from prosecuting wherever possible.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A nation divided? – New Law Journal

Posted December 12th, 2016 in appeals, brexit, EC law, news, Scotland, Supreme Court, treaties by sally

‘Could the Sewel Convention scupper Brexit, asks Michael Zander QC.’

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New Law Journal, 8th December 2016

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Judge calls for LiP powers after court ‘bombarded’ with emails – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2016 in case management, judges, litigants in person, news by sally

‘An appeal judge has called for extra powers to curb the activities of litigants in person who inundate courts with communications.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

CJC group urges government to consider online system for PI small claims – Legal Futures

Posted December 12th, 2016 in Civil Justice Council, courts, internet, news, personal injuries, small claims by sally

‘Personal injury (PI) claims that fall into an enlarged small claims track under government reforms should be dealt with online rather than in court, an expert Civil Justice Council (CJC) group has suggested to the Ministry of Justice.’

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Legal Futures, 9th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Murderer jailed for 1986 rape thanks to DNA testing advances – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2016 in DNA, news, rape, recidivists, sentencing by sally

‘A convicted murderer has been given a second life sentence for a rape he committed 30 years ago – thanks to advances in DNA testing.’

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BBC News, 9th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Supreme Court to hear ‘unfair wills’ test case – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 12th, 2016 in appeals, charities, news, Supreme Court, wills by sally

‘The Supreme Court will today hear a case that should clarify the law on challenging wills on the grounds that they do not make reasonable provision. Animal charities are appealing a Court of Appeal decision in July last year in favour of Heather Ilott, who had been excluded from her mother Melita Jackson’s will.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 12th December 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Rachel Jones: The Importance of Silences in the “Brexit” Appeals – UK Constitutional Law Association

‘Statutory silences are crucial to both sides. For Ms Miller, Lord Pannick contends that Parliament’s silence in the EU Referendum Act 2015 means that the Executive is not empowered to start the Article 50 process. Mr Eadie for the Government relies on the same silence for the diametrically opposed position.’

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UL Constitutional Law Association, 7th December 2016

Source: www.ukconstitutionallaw.org

Police ‘could help prevent’ 400 deaths after custody – BBC News

‘Four hundred people killed themselves shortly after being released from police custody in England and Wales in the last seven years, a report says.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Tougher rules threaten to choke off Ukip’s EU funding – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2016 in EC law, expenses, news, political parties by sally

‘Ukip and its allies will from now on be asked to provide bank guarantees in order to unlock a lucrative tranche of EU funds, the Guardian has learned.’

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The Guardian, 9th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

‘Secure schools’ pilot scheme for young offenders – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2016 in education, Ministry of Justice, news, pilot schemes, reports, young offenders by sally

‘Two “secure schools” are to be opened for teenage offenders in England and Wales in a bid to improve education within the youth justice system.’

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BBC News, 11th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Oversupply of law graduates and growing number of LiPs are solution to each other’s problem, says MR – Legal Futures

‘The combination of an oversupply of law graduates shut out of the profession due to fewer training contracts or pupillages and the growing number of litigants in person (LiPs) offers an opportunity to enhance access to justice while helping students into practice, the Master of the Rolls has said.’

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Legal Futures, 7th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Applications for term-time absences rise after High Court ruling: research – Local Government Lawyer

‘Nearly one in three school leaders (31%) have reported an increase in the number of applications for term-time absences since a landmark High Court ruling in May this year, a survey by law firm Browne Jacobson has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 9th December 2016

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Rail penalty fares: Passengers could get new appeals body – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2016 in appeals, fines, news, penalties, railways by sally

‘Rail passengers who challenge the issuing of a penalty fare could soon be able to turn to a new, independent appeals panel in England and Wales.’

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BBC News, 10th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

UK adopts antisemitism definition to combat hate crime against Jews – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2016 in hate crime, Israel, Judaism, news, racism by sally

‘The government is to formally adopt a definition of what constitutes antisemitism, which includes over-sweeping condemnation of Israel, with Theresa May saying the measure will help efforts to combat hate crime against Jews.’

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The Guardian, 12th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Theresa May faces new Brexit legal challenge – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 12th, 2016 in brexit, constitutional law, EC law, judicial review, news, Supreme Court, treaties, veto by sally

‘Theresa May faces a new challenge to her bid to start the process to take Britain out of the European Union after it emerged that opponents plan to launch a fresh legal action on Monday.’

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Daily Telegraph, 11th December 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

FCA seeks reforms in 2017 to some crowdfunding rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted December 12th, 2016 in disclosure, financial regulation, loans, news by sally

‘The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will seek to address potential investor detriment by outlining proposed reforms to crowdfunding rules in the early part of 2017, the regulator has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 9th December 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Syria couple win legal fight for care of children – BBC News

Posted December 12th, 2016 in children, custody, family courts, judgments, news, proscribed organisations, terrorism by sally

‘A Muslim couple arrested over fears that they were heading to Syria for “extremist activities” have won a court fight for the care of their children.’

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BBC News, 11th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Orgreave files ‘to be made public next year’ – The Guardian

Posted December 12th, 2016 in archives, documents, industrial action, miners, news, police, select committees by sally

‘Home Office files concerning events at the “battle of Orgreave” are due to be released next year among a cache of records relating to the 1984 miners’ strike.’

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The Guardian, 11th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk